System for correctly tying a dress tie in a single attempt

ABSTRACT

A system is provided that enables a wearer to tie a dress tie so that the ends thereof are of optimum length on the first try after a short, one-time practice session. Optimum length is assumed when the tip of large end of the tie is even with the center of the wearers belt buckle. The system necessitates creation of a line of dress ties that, except for the print design on the outer shell, are essentially identical with respect to thickness, width and length. In addition, all ties in the line must employ a dimensionally-stable internal backing fabric, to prevent stretching. Identical series of equally-spaced position markers are provided on each tie in the line so that a wearer can identify a proper starting point for beginning to knot the tie. Markers are embroidered or deposited on a portion of each tie.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates, generally, to dress ties and bow ties and, more particularly, to methods for tying a dress tie or bow tie correctly, with proper end lengths, on the first attempt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most fashion experts agree that the necktie originated in the 17th century, during the Thirty Years War in Central Europe. During that war, King Louis XIII of France hired Croatian mercenaries, who wore a piece of cloth around their neck as part of their uniform. Not only did these early neckties serve to tie the top of their jackets, they also had quite a decorative effect—one which King Louis was quite fond of. In fact, he liked it so much that he made these ties a mandatory accessory for Royal gatherings, and—to honor the Croatian soldiers—he gave this clothing piece the name “La Cravate”—the name for necktie in French to this day.

The early cravats of the 17th century have little resemblance to today's necktie, yet it was a style that stayed popular throughout Europe for over 200 years. The tie as we know it today did not emerge until the 1920s but since then has undergone many (often subtle) changes.

During the latter part of the 19th century, the four-in-hand knot came into fashion for use with Cravats. Cravats tied in this manner were worn during the first decade of the 20th century. The second decade of the 20th century saw a decline in formal cravats and ascots as men's fashion became more casual with haberdashers putting a stronger emphasis on comfort, functionality, and fit. Towards the end of this decade neckties closely resemble the ties as we know them today. The 1920s were an important decade for men's ties. A New York tie maker named Jessie Langsdorf invented a new way of cutting the fabric when constructing a tie, which allowed the tie to spring back into its original shape after each wearing. This invention triggered the creation of many new tie knots. Though the four-in-hand knot is still used for tying modern neckties, its use has been eclipsed by knots such as the Windsor and half-Windsor knots. The Windsor knot, which was invented by the Duke of Windsor (later known as Edward III), as become the standard knot for men's neckties. In fact, it is the only knot approved for use by the Royal Air Force. Because of the number of wraps required to make the knot, judging where to begin the knotting process and how much slack to have before the knot is begun can be difficult.

As the wearing of clip-on, pre-tied dress ties and bow ties is considered, by many, to be gauche and tawdry, as well as evidence of a lack of style and good taste, hand-tied dress ties and bow ties are likely to be with us for a very long time.

When a young man learns to tie a dress tie for the first time after graduating from the clip-on ties of childhood, he learns that he is very lucky if the tip of large end of the tie is even with the center of his belt buckle and the small end of the tie is shorter than the large end on the first try. Even for someone who is adept at tying a dress tie, it is not infrequent that he will need to tie it at least twice in order to obtain the proper proportions of small and large end lengths. What makes the tying process so frustrating is that not only do dress ties vary somewhat in length, but they also vary in width and thickness, with thickness being a function of the quality and thickness of backing material used, as well as the thickness of the cloth from which the tie is manufactured. Another variable is that some ties tend to stretch over time. Width, thickness and length all play a part in the equation for the proper tying of a dress tie.

Although most good quality dress ties incorporate a backing fabric, it does not possess a high degree of dimensional stability because none of the fibers run the length of the tie. Instead, tradition seems to control the orientation of the backing fabric, as there are always two perpendicular sets of fibers, both of which are diagonally oriented with respect to the centerline of the necktie. Thus, a conventional dress tie can be stretched some ten centimeters simply by holding each end and gently pulling the ends in opposite directions. In addition, such dress ties will gradually stretch at least five centimeters over their useful lives. During the nearly 100 years that dress ties have been popular, thousands of haberdashers and manufacturers have plied their trade in the manufacture of countless neckties. Yet, not one of these entities has ever oriented the backing fabric so that one set of fibers runs the entire length of the tie. If this were such a useful and obvious idea, one would assume that at least one of those thousands of entities would have oriented the backing fabric in that manner. Yet, the present inventor is not aware of even a single reference that shows backing material fibers oriented in such a way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system enabling a wearer to tie a dress tie so that the ends thereof are of optimum length on the first try after a short, one-time practice session. By optimum length, it is usually assumed that a dress tie is properly tied when the tip of large end of the tie is even with the center of a wearers belt buckle, and the small end of the tie is shorter than the large end. The first part of that system is to create a dress tie that has very few variables. Thickness, width and length must be constant for a particular line of dress ties. For example, a tie manufacturer might have several lines (e.g. wide and narrow) and several sizes (e.g., long, medium and short) of dress ties, but each size in each line, regardless of the outer fabric design, must be consistent in thickness, length and width and must not stretch with use. In order to accomplish these objectives, each tie must have the same shape, must use a dimensionally-stable internal backing fabric, and the outer fabric—with different prints for different ties—must consistently be of the same weight. When these variables have been eliminated, it is still necessary to provide position markers on the tie itself so that a wearer can tie any dress tie in his collection in an identical manner. The present invention provides a method for creating position markers on the tie so that a user can begin the tying process the same way every time. Identical series of equally-spaced markers are sewn on each of the manufacturer's ties of the same size. A preferred way of creating the markers is to embroider equidistant raised dashes or dots or both on the front side or on the back side or on both sides of the tie. The markers can also be created with an elastomeric compound, such as RTV silicon rubber, applied directly to the tie's decorative fabric. Because the markers are raised, a blind person could easily learn to correctly tie such a tie in only one attempt after a one time practice session of several attempts. Use of this invention does not imply that a wearer of such a tie will need no practice. Once the user has determined the optimum beginning position for beginning the knot, he can repeat the task over and over on different ties of this same type in his collection and properly tie each tie with a single attempt. One simple way of correctly positioning the tie to begin the knot is to wrap the tie around the neck and have the two ends intersect at a 90-degree angle, with the appropriate mark designating the optimum starting point for the knot on the large end at the point of intersection. An alternative technique is to have the markers on the small end of the tie and start the tying process with the small end at a predetermined height, as indicated by the position of the markers. For example, the wearer of the tie may decide to align a particular marker with the top button of his shirt, and then begin the tying process. Of course, in such a case, it would be assumed that the wearer would tie the knot with similar slack each time so that the results would not significantly vary. Using either technique, all identically-made and identically-marked ties in a single line of ties can be properly tied with only one attempt. Narrow ties and wide ties would need to be marketed as separate lines, as they would tie differently. The key to the invention is the use of the dimensionally-stable backing fabric, the standardization of length, width and thickness of each tie in the marketed line, and the use of uniformly positioned markers that would enable a wearer to tie each tie in the line the same way each time, using the markers as a guide to beginning the tying process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a dress tie equipped with a series of markers centered on the bottom, or back side thereof;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a dress tie equipped with a series of off-center markers on the bottom, or back side thereof;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a dress tie equipped with a series of markers centered on the top, or front side thereof;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a dress tie equipped with a series of markers centered on the narrow end third thereof; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a dimensionally-stable backing fabric.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system enabling a wearer to tie a dress tie so that the ends thereof are of optimum length on the first try after a short, one-time practice session. By optimum length, it is usually assumed that a dress tie is properly tied when the tip of large end of the tie is even with the center of a wearers belt buckle, and the small end of the tie is shorter than the large end.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawing figures. It is to be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that they are intended to be merely illustrative of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the rear surface 101 of a dress tie 100, which incorporates a first embodiment of the invention, is shown. A series 102 of 12 raised dots and 11 raised dashes is positioned over the rear center seam 103 on a middle portion 104 of the tie 100. The raised dots and dashes can be formed with embroidery or by depositing a flexible polymeric compound such as RTV (room-temperature vulcanization) silicon rubber in the shape of dots and dashes. If embroidery is used to form the series 102, the embroidery is visible on both the front and rear surfaces of the tie.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the rear surface 201 of a dress tie 200, which incorporates a second embodiment of the invention, is shown. A series 202 of 12 raised dots and 11 raised dashes is positioned to one side of the rear center seam 203 on a middle portion 204 of the tie 200. As with the first embodiment described with respect to FIG. 1, the raised dots and dashes can be formed with embroidery or by deposited a flexible polymeric compound. Because the dots are place to one side of the rear center seam 203, it far easier to form the series 202 with embroidery on only the back surface, as the embroidery can be sewn on the outer fabric of the tie before the tie 200 is sewn together at the rear center seam 203. If the raised dots and dashes are formed with a flexible polymeric compound, the dots can be applied either before or after the tie 200 is sewn together at the rear center seam 203.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the front surface 301 of the dress tie 100 of FIG. 1 is shown with the series 302 of raised dots and dashes running down the center of a middle portion 104 of the dress tie. In this case, if embroidery was used to form the series 102 of dots and dashes, it is visible on both the front and rear surfaces of the tie 100. Alternatively, the series 302 of dots and dashes can be embroidered into the shell fabric of the tie before the tie is assembled and before the center seam is sewn. In such a case, the series 302 of dots and dashes would be found only on the front surface 301 of the tie.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the front surface 401 of the dress tie 400 is shown with the series 402 of raised dots and dashes running down the center of the narrow end third 403 of the dress tie 400. This particular embodiment shows the markers beginning about 20 cm (8 inches) from the narrow end of the tie and ending before the central third of the tie. In any case, the markers are placed predominantly on a one-third portion of the tie's length that begins with the narrow end thereof. If embroidery is used to form the series 402 of dots and dashes, it can be visible on either the front surface or both the front and rear surfaces of the tie 400. If only on the front surface, the series of dots and dashes is preferably embroidered into the shell fabric before the tie is assembled, and before the center seam is sewn. It should be emphasized that the embroidery can be sewn through both the shell fabric and the backing fabric (see FIG. 5). With a deposited series of dots and dashed, the markers can be located exclusively on either the front or back surfaces of the tie. Of course, because the narrow end of the tie is covered by the wide end while it is worn, it likely makes little, if any, difference to the wearer where the marks are placed. In such a case, the series 402 of dots and dashes would be found only on the front surface 401 of the tie. With such a series of raised markers, the wearer may decide to align a particular marker with the top button of his shirt, and then begin the tying process.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a dimensionally-stable backing fabric 501 is shown. Dimensionally-stable fabrics are well known in the art and are readily available. For example, Norfab Corporation of Norristown, Pa. manufactures tightly woven textile products using synthetic fibers such as para aramids (a class of strong, heat-resistant synthetic fibers also known by the trade names Kevlar® and Twaron®), meta arimid (an inherently flame-resistant, high-temperature resistant fiber, also known as Nomex®, that will not melt, drip, or support combustion in air, melamine (a class of self-extinguishing flame resistant fibers having outstanding dimensional stability even when heated, also known as Basofil®), oxidized polyacrylonitrile (a dimensiionally stable and inherently flame-resistant fiber also known as OPAN), modal (a semi-synthetic cellulose fiber and a type of rayon made by spinning reconstituted cellulose typically derived from beech trees, and made by the Lenzing Group and others), as well as other technical fibers blended into yarns which provide high levels dimensional stability. Several U.S. patents also disclose the manufacture of dimensionally-stabile fabrics. U.S. Pat. No. 3,616,149 to Robert C. Wincklhofer discloses a fabric prepared from blended fiber-forming polymers having different chemical properties, with at least one of the fiber-forming polymers being dispersed as fibrils in a lower melting point polymeric matrix. The fabric article is produced by heating the fabric to a temperature above the melting point of the matrix forming material, but below the melting temperature of the dispersed fibrils, thereby setting the fabric in a stable shape. U.S. Pat. No. 4,026,129 to Herschel Sternlieb discloses a dimensionally-stable fabric of a type having a layer of carded fibers reinforced by a woven fabric layer, warp knitted together by separate yarns, with the carded fiber layer being unbonded, uncompacted and of intermingled, non-parallel fibers. U.S. Pat. No. 7,766,054 to Donald E. Scott discloses a method of producing a dimensionally stable, fire-resistant fabric including the steps of spinning yarn from wool and fire-resistant synthetic fibers, weaving the yarn to form a fabric, and dimensionally stabilizing the fabric. Each of these three referenced U.S. patents is incorporated in this application in its entirety. For the purposes of this patent application, the term dimensionally-stable backing fabric shall mean a fabric made of tightly-woven of synthetic fibers selected from the group consisting of Kevlar®, Nomex®, Twaron®, Basofil®, Kynol®, Oxidized Pan Fiber, Lenzing FR®.

Still referring now to FIG. 5, it will be noted that a first portion of fibers of the dimensionally-stable backing fabric 501 extend the entire length of the dress tie, while a second and balance portion of fibers, are woven at right angles to those of the first portion, and extend the entire width of the tie. This arrangement of the backing fabric 501 ensures that stretching of the tie under normal use will be limited to less than a centimeter rather than an order of magnitude greater. This invention constitutes a break with tradition and convention.

Although only three embodiments of a dress tie incorporating both a dimensionally-stable backing fabric and a series of position markers on the ties surface have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those having ordinary skill in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for correctly tying a dress tie comprising the steps of: providing a line of ties, all of which have common length, width and thickness and a dimensionally-stable backing fabric woven of fibers, a first portion of which run an entire length of the tie, with a second and balance portion thereof running at right angles to the fibers of said first portion, said dimensionally-stable internal backing fabric resisting stretching of the tie in a longitudinal direction; and providing an identical linear series of markers on a surface of each tie in the line of ties, said markers enabling a wearer to identify a starting point for knotting each tie.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the markers are positioned on a front surface of the tie.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the markers are positioned on a rear surface of the tie.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the markers are positioned on both the front and rear surfaces of the tie.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the markers are embroidered on a surface of the tie.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the markers are deposited on a surface of the tie.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the markers are formed from a polymeric compound.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the markers are raised from the surface so that they can be tactilely identified by a wearer.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the markers are embroidered to one side of a center rear seam.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the markers are embroidered centered on a center rear seam.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the dimensionally-stable backing fabric is woven from fibers made from at least one of the materials selected from the group consisting of para aramids, meta aramids, melamine, oxidized polyacrylonitrile and modal.
 12. A method for enabling a wearer to tie a dress tie, of the type having wide and narrow ends, so that both ends thereof are of optimum length on the first try after a short, one-time practice session, the method comprising the steps of: providing a line of dress ties, each of which incorporates a dimensionally-stable internal backing fabric woven of fibers, a first portion of which run an entire length of the tie, with a second and balance portion thereof running at right angles to the fibers of said first portion, said dimensionally-stable internal backing fabric resisting stretching of the tie in a longitudinal direction, and wherein all of the dress ties in said line, save for an outer shell design, are virtually identical with respect to length, width, thickness, and general composition; and providing an identical linear series of raised markers on a surface of each tie in the line of dress ties, said markers enabling a sighted wearer to visually and tactilely identify a starting point for knotting each tie in the line of dress ties, and said markers enabling a blind wearer to tactilely identify a starting point for knotting each tie in the line of dress ties.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the markers are positioned on a surface selected from the group consisting of a front major surface of the tie, a rear major surface of the tie, and both front and rear major surfaces of the tie.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein said markers are positioned within a portion of each dress tie that is near the narrow end thereof.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the markers are positioned predominantly on a one-third portion of a length of each tie that begins at the narrow end thereof.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the markers are embroidered on at least one surface of the tie.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein the markers are deposited on at least one surface of the tie.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the markers are formed from a polymeric compound.
 19. The method of claim 12, wherein the markers are raised from the surface of each tie.
 20. The method of claim 12, wherein the dimensionally-stable internal backing fabric is woven from fibers made from at least one of the materials selected from the group consisting of para aramids, meta aramids, melamine, oxidized polyacrylonitrile and modal. 